Auriemma expressed worry that the pressure would get to his two freshmen starters, point guard Bria Hartley and center Stefanie Dolson.

“No matter how much you try to prepare them for it and work on certain things and talk to them or what their teammates say to them, when the opening tip goes up at 9:30-something tomorrow night, you’re going to have two kids out there that are going to be a little bit jittery,” he said.

Notre Dame, on the other hand, is taking a lead from senior captain Becca Bruszewski.

“Business on the court, the complete opposite off the court,” Bruszewski said.

Notre Dame and Connecticut tip off at 9:30 p.m. at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game will be televised on ESPN.